CJI Surya Kant Leads Farewell to Justices Maheshwari and Pankaj Mithal at Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday bid farewell to Justice J K Maheshwari and Justice Pankaj Mithal , marking the end of two distinguished judicial careers while reflecting on the broader role judges play in shaping institutions, constitutional values, and public faith in the justice system. The ceremony, held ahead of the court's partial working period from June 1 to July 12, highlighted not only the judges' notable contributions but also the enduring impact of judicial legacies on India's democratic framework.

Leading the tributes, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant described the occasion as one of gratitude and reflection, praising both judges for strengthening the institution through their integrity, commitment, and unwavering sense of purpose. Justice Maheshwari will demit office on June 28 , while Justice Mithal is scheduled to retire on June 16 .

The CJI noted that Justice Maheshwari's journey was defined by discipline, humility, and deep personal integrity. During his tenure, he was part of the Constitution Bench that rejected the Centre's curative petition seeking an additional Rs 7,844 crore from successor firms of Union Carbide Corporation in the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy case. He also headed the bench that ordered a CBI probe into the Karur stampede in Tamil Nadu, which claimed 41 lives, observing that the incident had shaken the national conscience.

Justice Mithal , meanwhile, played a key role in several significant constitutional matters. He was part of the seven-judge Constitution Bench that upheld the power of states to create sub-classifications within Scheduled Castes for targeted reservation benefits. In a separate but concurring opinion, he advocated a fresh review of reservation policies and referred to observations made by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on the issue.

Paying tribute to Justice Mithal, CJI Kant described him as a jurist with remarkable judicial temperament and a deeply human understanding of the Bench's responsibilities. He remarked that the judge's passion for stamp collecting reflected his ability to find deeper meaning in details, a quality that also informed his judicial philosophy.

The farewell also offered an opportunity to reflect on the importance of judicial legacy . Throughout India's constitutional history, judges have shaped institutions not only through landmark rulings but also through the values they uphold. The legacy of Justice H R Khanna's dissent during the Emergency and the Supreme Court's Basic Structure Doctrine continue to influence constitutional governance decades later.

In his farewell remarks, Justice Mithal expressed concern over the growing burden of pending cases, stressing that every unresolved matter represents a human story awaiting justice. Justice Maheshwari, reflecting on his journey from Madhya Pradesh to serving as Chief Justice of the High Courts of Andhra Pradesh and Sikkim , said the common citizen's aspiration for justice remains unchanged across the country.

Attended by judges, lawyers, court staff and family members, the ceremony served as both a farewell and a reminder that while judges retire, the principles they defend and the institutions they strengthen continue to shape the judiciary for generations.